House of Commons18th November 2013Notices of Motions for which no days have been fixed
('Early Day Motions')

The figure following this symbol is the number of Members who have added their names in support of the Motion, including the Member in charge of the Motion.

After an Early Day Motion (EDM) has been printed for the first time, it is only reprinted when names are added or amendments tabled; only the first six names and any names added since the last printing are included. After the week in which a Motion is first printed and the following week, added names and amendments appear only in a separate paper, Mature EDMs, distributed the next Thursday. In the meantime, they are available for inspection by Members in the Table Office and the Library or on the EDM database at edmi.parliament.uk

699LEICESTER DIABETES CENTRE11:11:13

Keith Vaz

Jeremy Corbyn

Jim Shannon

Dr Alasdair McDonnell

Kelvin Hopkins

Martin Caton

8

Sir Alan MealeDr William McCrea

That this House welcomes the opening of the Leicester Diabetes Centre in Leicester General Hospital on 7 November 2013; notes that it is one of the largest diabetes centres in Europe and will enable researchers across different departments to work together on one site for the first time; further notes that Sir Steve Redgrave, himself a sufferer from diabetes, opened the centre, making it a significant event in the campaign to raise awareness for diabetes; upholds Leicester as a leading example of a city at the forefront of innovative health developments; commends the work of Professor Melanie Davies, Professor Kamlesh Khunti and Professor Azhar Farooqi OBE: recognises that there are three million adults with diabetes in the UK and a further one million who are thought to have the condition but are unaware of it; and encourages the Secretary of State for Health to visit the centre in order to highlight the prevention of diabetes as a priority for the NHS.

700HIV TESTING WEEK11:11:13

That this House welcomes HIV Testing Week which runs from 22 to 29 November 2013; notes that HIV Testing Week leads up to World AIDS Day on 1 December 2013; commends that it raises awareness for HIV testing; further welcomes the fact that it highlights the global issues of AIDS and HIV; expresses concern that approximately 22,000 people in the UK are unaware that they have HIV; celebrates HIV Testing Week for raising awareness of the importance of early and regular HIV testing amongst those most at risk; and calls on hon. Members to support raising awareness for HIV and AIDS by supporting HIV Testing Week locally.

701PROGRESSIVE ILLNESSES AND ESA11:11:13

That this House supports the call by Parkinsons UK, the MS Society, the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust for the improvement of the work capability assessment as outlined in their submission to the assessment's fourth independent review; notes their evidence that 45 per cent of people with progressive illnesses who have applied for employment and support allowance have been told that they could recover enough to return to work; recognises the pain and suffering that many people with progressive illnesses face on a daily basis and that the work capability assessment currently adds to this; further notes that many people with progressive illnesses have been valuable contributors to the UK economy and society and will only submit a claim for the benefit as a last resort; calls on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to ensure that anyone with a prognosis of being unlikely to return to work in the longer term is placed into the support group, rather than allocated to the work-related activity group; further calls on the DWP to oblige Atos healthcare professionals to seek further evidence to clinically justify their recommendations on likely return to work before being able to place anyone with a progressive condition in the work-related activity group; and further calls on the DWP to abandon prognosis statements, which advise that a return to work could be considered in a certain timeframe, if that person has a debilitating progressive condition.

702POLITICAL SITUATION IN BANGLADESH11:11:13

Mr George Galloway

Mr Mike Hancock

2

That this House notes that a number of leading members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party have been arrested recently; further notes that the home of the leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Begum Khaleda Zia, has been surrounded by security forces, making it very difficult if not impossible for leading members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party to meet and consult with her; further notes that these actions follow the demand by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party that the incumbent government should hand over to a caretaker government that will command the confidence of all principal parties which will then preside over the forthcoming general election; fears that the political situation is deteriorating in Bangladesh which will be potentially disastrous for the country; and therefore urges the Government to ask the current government of Bangladesh to respect basic human rights in Bangladesh and to negotiate with all the principal opposition parties to arrive at a process for the forthcoming general election which will be acceptable to and which will have the necessary credibility with all the principal political parties in Bangladesh.

703INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL FOR BUSINESS11:11:13

Mrs Louise Ellman

Luciana Berger

John Pugh

Steve Rotheram

Stephen Twigg

Mr George Howarth

9

Mr Mike Hancock

That this House is encouraged by the positive progress made in the development of the International Festival for Business, to be held in Liverpool in 2014 and attracting 250,000 visitors from around the world; recognises that this is an excellent opportunity to provide an international showcase for British business; notes that over half of the total target of 100 events have already been confirmed; praises Liverpool City Council and Liverpool Vision for the role they have played in enabling the Festival to go ahead; acknowledges the active support and involvement of government departments and agencies; and calls on the Government to continue to assist and constructively engage with the Festival.

That this House expresses concern over the proposals in NHS England's Funding Review of Allocations to alter health funding formulas which would divert funding away from areas of poor health outcomes to areas with better health outcomes; notes the long-standing political and scientific consensus that economic deprivation is a major indicator of healthcare needs; further notes that life expectancy can vary by as much as 11.5 years in different parts of England; further notes the answer given by the Health Minister in the House on 12 June 2012 that he 'can give that assurance' in response to a question from the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne East that economic deprivation would not be downgraded in the resource allocation formula, Official Report, column 167; further notes the Health Minister's failure to condemn the proposals when questioned in the House on 22 October 2013, Official Report, column 134, and during a Westminster Hall debate on 5 November 2013, Official Report, column 63WH; and calls on the Government to resist any further moves to divert funding away from areas of high deprivation in future funding allocations and to oppose the proposals being consulted on in NHS England's funding review of allocations.

705UNDER-OCCUPANCY PENALTY (No. 2)11:11:13

That this House believes that the under-occupancy penalty was a mistake and should not have been introduced in the Welfare Reform Act 2012; further believes that it will not achieve the savings projected for it and that as constructed it is likely to have unforeseen consequences that will be unfair to certain groups and individuals; recognises that there is an urgent need to free up social housing to deal with the chronic shortage of social housing in many areas of the country, a legacy of the housing policies of previous Conservative and Labour administrations, including allowing people to buy council houses without replacing the stock, but nevertheless believes that the under-occupancy penalty is flawed and unacceptable in its current form; notes the perverse consequence that in some areas there are more larger properties now lying empty and with inadequate smaller housing; further believes that there should be more automatic exemptions, including for disabled and ill adults who require separate rooms for medical reasons or reasons associated with their disability; further believes that no-one should be subject to the penalty until they have refused a suitable home; further believes that councils should be given more exemptions, including where they can and wish to let houses above the recommended size without penalty to the individual or council; calls on the Department for Work and Pensions to conduct an urgent review of the policy and make changes; and further believes that if the Department refuses to do this, the policy should be scrapped altogether.

706COMMEMORATION OF JOHN F KENNEDY11:11:13

That this House notes the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy on 22 November 1963 and the lasting impact it has had across the world; remembers and pays tribute to his presidency and the huge contribution he made to the civil rights movement, the reduction of nuclear weapons, the introduction of Medicaid, the establishment of the Peace Corps, space exploration, and ending the Cold War; recognises the unique characteristics Kennedy brought to the presidency, and that his youth, energy, charisma, compassion and continuous belief that politics can bring out the best in people embodies not just the generation of the 1960s but those to come; recalls the intense pressure of the Cuban missile crisis and the remarkable statesmanship Kennedy displayed in preventing a global nuclear conflict; praises the efforts he undertook to close the gaps between rich and poor, young and old, black and white, American and non-American; and shares the late President's belief that, if a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.

734JOHN COLE12:11:13

Jim Shannon

Mr Nigel Dodds

Andrew George

Sir Peter Bottomley

Glenda Jackson

Jeremy Corbyn

9

Mark DurkanDr William McCreaNaomi Long

That this House records with gratitude the massive contribution that John Cole, political editor, made to public life through his role within the BBC; highlights the great respect that all had for him; and conveys sincere sympathy to his family and friends.

735NRAS 4th HEALTHCARE CHAMPIONS AWARDS12:11:13

Mrs Linda Riordan [R]

Andrew George

Sir Peter Bottomley

Sir Alan Meale

Jeremy Corbyn

Mark Durkan

6

That this House welcomes the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) 4th Healthcare Champions Awards which celebrate and recognise the dedication, enthusiasm and professionalism of those healthcare professionals who champion the cause of people with rheumatoid arthritis; notes that rheumatoid arthritis affects 580,000 people in England alone, suggesting that over 690,000 adults live with the condition in the UK, costing the economy upwards of £5 billion in indirect costs and work related disability; and calls on the Government to congratulate the award winners, and all the participants, for delivering the highest quality of care and professionalism for those with rheumatoid arthritis.

[R] Relevant Interest declared

736PRAGEETH EKNALIGODA AND THE NEED TO TACKLE IMPUNITY IN SRI LANKA12:11:13

Ann Clwyd

Sir Richard Shepherd

John McDonnell

Siobhain McDonagh

Stephen Gilbert

Sir Peter Bottomley

9

Jeremy CorbynMark DurkanJim Shannon

That this House is very concerned about the case of Prageeth Eknaligoda, a Sri Lankan journalist and political analyst, who went missing on 24 January 2010; welcomes and supports his wife Sandhya Eknaligoda and Amnesty International's campaign to investigate his disappearance; calls on the UK Government to raise Prageeth Eknaligoda's case as a matter of urgency with the government of Sri Lanka to urge it to promptly investigate the case, as well as other disappearances brought to the attention of the relevant Sri Lankan authorities, make the results of those investigations public and bring to justice those responsible; and further calls on the UK Government to raise at the highest levels with the Sri Lankan government concerns about impunity, which effectively continues to deny victims of serious human rights violations and their families in Sri Lanka a viable domestic remedy, and has fuelled an on-going campaign of intimidation and violence against independent journalists, human rights defenders and government critics in Sri Lanka.

737WORLD DIABETES DAY 201312:11:13

Keith Vaz

Sir Alan Meale

Jeremy Corbyn

Sir Peter Bottomley

Mark Durkan

Jim Shannon

7

Dr William McCrea

That this House notes that 14 November 2013 is World Diabetes Day which raises awareness for the condition suffered by millions of people worldwide; further notes that organisations and individuals take part in the Blue Monument Challenge, which has seen over 1,000 monuments and buildings lit in blue; congratulates the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow MP, and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, on their historic decisions to light up, blue, the Elizabeth Tower which houses Big Ben and the fountains in Trafalgar Square respectively; commends Leicester City Football Club, the Leicester Mercury and the New Walk Museum in Leicester which will also light up blue; recognises that we are in the midst of a diabetes epidemic with an estimated three million people with the condition and a further 850,000 people who are unaware they have the condition; further notes that an alarming 24,000 people die from avoidable diabetes complications each year; and urges the Government to adopt necessary and immediate preventative policies to address this growing problem.

738CASTE DISCRIMINATION LEGISLATION12:11:13

Jeremy Corbyn

Sir Peter Bottomley

Jim Dowd

Sir Andrew Stunell

John McDonnell

Mark Durkan

10

Glenda JacksonSir Alan MealeMs Margaret RitchieJim Shannon

That this House welcomes the European Parliament resolution passed on 10 October 2013 to address the suffering of hundreds of millions of people all over the world who are subjected to caste discrimination by urging the EU to step up its efforts to address this human rights issue; notes the continued delay in introducing legislation to protect victims of caste discrimination within the UK; and urges the Government to reconsider its lengthy consultation period and to bring forward the necessary legislative changes before the end of the current parliamentary session.

739FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT FOR PALESTINIAN JOURNALISTS12:11:13

Jeremy Corbyn

Alex Cunningham

Sarah Teather

Mr David Ward

Mark Durkan

Mr Elfyn Llwyd

10

Glenda JacksonGrahame M. MorrisSir Peter BottomleyMs Margaret Ritchie

That this House notes that, on a daily basis, Israeli authorities restrict journalists' movements and there are hundreds of military checkpoints that constrain or forbid journalists' movements; further notes that despite the long standing campaigning by journalists and civil rights organisations, the Israeli authorities continue to reject identiy cards, accreditation and press cards, including the International Federation of Journalists press card, when carried by Palestinian journalists; condemns the continuous attacks by Israeli soldiers on Palestinian news gatherers, in particular photographers and camera crews, the level of attacks has increased during the first half of 2013, in 2012 the attacks involved rubber coated steel bullets, tear grenades and stun grenades; and reaffirms that freedom of movement is a central tenet of independent professional journalism and, in restricting such a right, Israeli authorities are in breach of international covenants and the right to report.

740HITZ RUGBY SOCIAL INCLUSION SCHEME12:11:13

Paul Farrelly

Mr Nicholas Brown

Mr John Whittingdale

Mark Pawsey

Mr Graham Brady

Mr John Leech

10

John CryerMr Gerry SutcliffeJim FitzpatrickSir Peter Bottomley

That this House welcomes the national launch of HITZ, a social inclusion programme, combining rugby union with training to support 9,000 at risk young people back into education and employment; notes the high cost of young persons Not in Employment, Education or Training to British public services and economy requires innovative solutions such at this; applauds the efforts of Premiership Rugby, and its constituent clubs Bath Rugby, Exeter Chiefs, Gloucester, Harlequins, Leicester Tigers, London Irish, London Wasps, Newcastle Falcons, Northampton Saints, Sale Sharks, Saracens and Worcester Warriors to tackle this pressing social issue in their communities; further welcomes the co-operation between Premiership Rugby, the private sector and public services such as youth offending schemes, pupil referral units and social and youth services involved in HITZ; and encourages the Government and others to look at the potential power of professional rugby union as an agent of social change for young people in the run-up to Rugby World Cup 2015.

741SKILLS FOR CARE AND DEVELOPMENT AMBASSADORS18:11:13

Mr Barry Sheerman

Sir Peter Bottomley

Mark Durkan

Ms Margaret Ritchie

Sir Bob Russell

5

That this House endorses the Skills for Care and Development Ambassadors initiative for expanding careers in social care and children's services in the UK; recognises that over 70 per cent of the UK's population will use social care and children's services at some time in their lives, that the care sector makes a huge contribution of over £40 billion to the economy each year, and employs 1.87 million people; and regards the Skills for Care and Development Ambassadors, who visit schools, colleges and jobcentres to attract people to pursue a career in care, as an effective means of filling the 90,000 vacancies a year in the sector.

742SELF-MONITORING OF BLOOD CLOTTING18:11:13

Mr Barry Sheerman

Sir Peter Bottomley

Ms Margaret Ritchie

Mark Durkan

4

That this House welcomes the AntiCoagulation Self-Monitoring Alliance (ACSMA) campaign to achieve greater access to self-monitoring technology for people on long-term warfarin; notes that self-monitoring of blood clotting levels is associated with considerable benefits in that it reduces the risk of death by nearly two-fifths, more than halves the risk of strokes, improves quality of life, is convenient and can result in substantial cost savings to the NHS; further notes with concern that 69 per cent of patients on long-term warfarin who responded to an ACSMA survey are currently unable or not allowed to self-monitor their condition by their healthcare professional or clinical commissioning group; and calls on the Government to ensure that patients have full choice about how they want to treat their condition and to be able to have an informed discussion with their medical professional about the possible self-management options available to them.

743ROMA IMMIGRANTS18:11:13

Mr George Galloway

1

That this House condemns the derogatory comments of the right hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough about Roma immigrants; agrees that describing their presence in the UK as likely to lead to an explosion is widely inaccurate and could well lead to stigmatisation, prejudice and Romaphobia; understands that these migrants have been driven to the UK through poverty and prejudice; believes that they should be welcomed; and notes that repeated studies have shown that immigrants contribute more to the UK economy than they take out.

744PRIVATE SCHOOLS18:11:13

Mr George Galloway

1

That this House wholeheartedly agrees with the Prime Minister that there must be much greater social mobility in British society; wonders that he has appointed the number of members of his Cabinet and close advisers from Eton and other private schools; notes that his Government has scrapped the educational maintenance allowance, allowed private school fees to be exempt from VAT and permitted universities to massively hike their fees to the detriment of working class aspirants; and urges him to insist to the Chancellor of the Exchequer that one significant way of tackling this problem would be to remove the charitable status of the public school sector.

745SACHIN TENDULKAR18:11:13

Keith Vaz

Sir Peter Bottomley

2

That this House congratulates the magnificent Sachin Tendulkar on his stunning career following his 200th and final test match in Mumbai on 15 November 2013; notes that in his record breaking and remarkable career the Little Master scored 15,921 runs in 200 Tests, 18,426 runs in 463 one day internationals and an astounding 100 centuries; further notes that Tendulkar has served as an inspiration for millions of Indians and people from all around the world; and recognises his selfless dedication to the sport, which has surely enriched cricket for decades to come.

746ASSASSINATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGNERS IN COLOMBIA18:11:13

John McDonnell

Jeremy Corbyn

Sir Peter Bottomley

Mark Durkan

4

That this House expresses its condolences to the family and friends of small-scale campesino farmer and community leader César García, who was gunned down in Cajamarca, Colombia, on 2 November 2013; notes that César was a leading figure in the campaign against the London-listed AngloGold Ashanti La Colosa open pit gold mining project, which many fear will have devastating environmental, social and economic consequences in the region; further expresses its condolences to the family and friends of Adelinda Gómez Gaviria, assassinated on 30 September 2013 in Almaguer, Colombia, in front of her 16 year-old son who was also injured in the attack; further notes that Adelinda was an active campaigner against mining in an area where AngloGold Ashanti has important business interests; further expresses concern about these crimes; calls on the Colombian authorities to carry out prompt, rigorous and independent investigations to identify the perpetrators of these crimes; and requests that other community leaders and environmental campaigners receive adequate protection so that they can peacefully exercise their democratic rights.

747STRATEGIC ROAD NETWORK18:11:13

John McDonnell

Jeremy Corbyn

2

That this House recognises that the Strategic Road Network is a major public asset which is essential to the economy of the UK; is concerned that proposals to change the status of the Highways Agency to a GoCo are a costly distraction and will do nothing to improve safety, the environment or the reliability of the network; and calls on the Government to halt this process of privatisation and allow the Strategic Road Network to remain a public asset, managed by the Highways Agency.

748100th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BRADBURY POUND18:11:13

Austin Mitchell

1

That this House notes that the hundredth anniversary of the Bradbury Pound on 7 August 2014 is a welcome reminder of the historic precedent for public credit as the sound basis for debt-and interest-free Treasury money and therefore the sound alternative to the national debt and interest-bearing bank money; congratulates the Forum for Stable Currencies for having promoted the public credit since 2002; and urges HM Treasury to follow John Bradbury's model and address social, economic and political issues across party lines in one fell swoop and avoid wholly unnecessary austerity cuts.

749SIR JOHN TAVENER18:11:13

Valerie Vaz

Jonathan Evans

Sir Peter Bottomley

3

That this House is deeply saddened by the death of Sir John Tavener at the age of 69, one of the leading classical composers of the late twentieth and twenty-first centuries; appreciates his outstanding contribution to classical music by bringing it into popular culture, with works such as Protecting the Veil, Song for Athene and pieces inspired by William Blake's poetry, The Lamb and Eternity Sunrise; recognises his exceptional creative talent demonstrated in the recent piece Cantus Mysticus, which premiered at a late night BBC Proms in 2008; notes that, as a student of the Royal Academy of Music and a teacher at Trinity College of Music, his work serves as a reminder of the importance of music in our cultural life; and calls on the Government to ensure that all children not only have access to music but are able to learn to play a musical instrument.

750STEVE PRESCOTT MBE18:11:13

Greg Mulholland

Mr Shaun Woodward

Alan Johnson

Yvonne Fovargue

4

That this House mourns the passing of Steve Prescott MBE; celebrates a hero in sport and in life; recognises his Rugby League footballing talent for England, Ireland, Lancashire, St Helens, Hull FC, Wakefield Trinity and Thatto Heath Crusaders; admires his ability to create and face incredible challenges after being diagnosed with pseudomyxoma peritonei; commends his assiduous fundraising efforts despite his condition; is grateful to Steve, to his family, friends and the Rugby League community for supporting him and to all those involved in his incredible feats to raise money for worthy causes; is humbled by his truly inspiring nature; and feels that adding his name to the Man of Steel award would be a fitting tribute to a genuine man of steel.

751SUPPORT FOR CARERS OF PEOPLE WITH CANCER18:11:13

Sir Alan Meale

Jim Dobbin

Mr David Crausby

Mr Ronnie Campbell

Ian Lavery

Ian Mearns

7

Mark Durkan

That this House is aware that there are nearly one million people in the UK who carry out unpaid care work for family members and friends affected by cancer, providing on average 15 hours help per week for sufferers; notes that the number of individuals predicted to become victims of that illness is likely to double over the next 20 years; considers that it is therefore imperative that priority should be given to supporting this network of aid, especially carers' access to information and relevant services; and calls on the Government as a priority to bring forward amendments to the Care Bill to take these factors into account.

752REVIEW OF THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME18:11:13

That this House notes that, whilst in opposition, the right hon. Member for Thornbury and Yate, now the Minister of State for Pensions, supported the campaign for assistance for 145,000 members of pension schemes throughout the UK when their company became insolvent, believing that all accrued rights should be honoured and that no changes should be made to pension rights that had already been built up; further notes that the Financial Assistance Scheme introduced by the previous Labour administration afforded 90 per cent of pension rights but due to inflation erosion and indexation being limited to post 1997 service only, is now in real terms nearer to 76 per cent of what was a guaranteed 100 per cent company pension, meaning that a pension promise made has not been kept; calls on the Government to review the extent to which the commitment to 90 per cent of expected pension entitlement has not been reached for those involved in the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS), taking into account that some 3,000 recipients of FAS received small overpayments through inaccurate calculations by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) which they now seek to recover, making these pensioners even more adversely affected; and calls on the DWP to waive the clawback.

753TEACHING ASSISTANTS IN SCHOOLS18:11:13

Alex Cunningham

Paul Farrelly

Ann Coffey

Mr David Anderson

Mr Clive Betts

Mrs Mary Glindon

8

Sir Bob RussellMark Durkan

That this House recognises that there are over 350,000 teaching assistants employed in England and appreciates the immense value they bring to classrooms and schools across the UK; notes that they perform an incredibly varied and complex mix of roles in schools, ranging from supporting teachers with administrative tasks to covering classes for teachers, providing targeted intervention programmes and delivering English classes for speakers of other languages; understands the difference they make to the most challenging pupils and those with severe learning difficulties and that mainstreaming in schools would have to stop without their efforts; further notes that, in a recent survey by UNISON, 95 per cent of school leaders believed that teaching assistants added value to schools, in particular in the team around the child, as effective mentors and advocates, and in enhancing the learning environment for all pupils; and joins in supporting UNISON members in their celebration day for teaching assistants on 29 November 2013 to recognise the difference they make to the education and support of children in UK schools.

That this House supports Unite the Union's Back Home Safe campaign, highlighting the need for immediate action to improve the safety of offshore flights; recognises the work of that union, following the most recent fatal offshore helicopter incident, in canvassing workers to show that over half do not feel adequately protected; acknowledges the role of the inquiries which have already been announced; but believes that only a full independent public inquiry will examine all aspects of helicopter operations offshore, including the role of the Civil Aviation Authority.